Missionaries’ lawyer faces extradition

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – A man who acted as a lawyer for U.S. missionaries accused of kidnapping 33 Haitian children after the devastating earthquake will face a hearing this month on a U.S. extradition request, an official said Monday.

It had been unclear whether Jorge Puello would be extradited to the U.S., where he is wanted on smuggling charges, or El Salvador, where authorities allege he led a prostitution ring.

Gisela Cueto, an assistant general prosecutor for the Dominican Republic, told the Associated Press on Monday that Puello will face extradition to the U.S. at an April 28 hearing. El Salvador did not complete a formal extradition request, she said.

Puello is wanted in El Salvador for alleged crimes against children; sexual exploitation of minors for pornography and prostitution; organized crime; and human trafficking. Interpol had issued an arrest warrant for Puello at El Salvador’s request.

He is wanted in Vermont and in Canada for allegedly smuggling illegal immigrants and in Philadelphia for purported probation violations related to fraud charges, according to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.